Austrians abroad and their institutions

The Austrian Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs Department for Austrians Abroad

The Department for Austrians Abroad at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (AuslandsösterreicherInnen-Abteilung of the BMEIA) is the central service and information point of the federal government for Austrians abroad and their concerns. Important topics include citizenship matters, elections, referendums and plebiscites, social, labour and health issues, and property issues in connection with expropriations abroad, the latter also for Austrians residing in Austria. Individual enquiries from Austrians living abroad can be addressed directly to the relevant municipality or district administrative authority, the relevant social insurance institution or the local Austrian representative authority abroad – embassy or consulate general.

The Fund for Austrians Abroad (AÖF)

The aim of the Fund for Austrians Abroad (AÖF) is to support Austrians living abroad who find themselves in financial hardship. The fund provides one-off or periodic financial assistance. Applications for support must be submitted exclusively through the relevant Austrian representative authorities. For more information and an application form, please contact the Fund directly.

Associations for Austrian expatriates

The World Federation of Austrians Abroad (WBÖ) is the umbrella organisation, interest group and service organisation for Austrian associations abroad. The WBÖ was formed from the merger of the ‘Auslandsösterreicherwerk’ and the ‘Weltbund der Österreicher im Ausland’ and has taken over all of their tasks.

A list of associations abroad with links to Austria is maintained by the WBÖ in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. The individual Austrian associations abroad can be viewed using the search function in the WBÖ database, which is sorted alphabetically by country.

Further links

• Living abroad (BMEIA)^{German text}
• Citizenship and European Union Citizenship (BMEIA)^{German text}
• Elections and direct democracy (BMEIA)^{German text}
• Financial issues with expropriation (BMEIA)^{German text}
• Austrian representations (BMEIA)^{German text}
• Fund for Austrians Abroad (BMEIA)^{German text}
• World Association of Austrians Abroad - in German only (AÖWB)^{German text}
• Burgenländische Gemeinschaft (BG)^{German text}